Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20
REAL ESTATE MATTERS.
Thtngs OF Interest to Property Owners
and Builders of Houses.

and Builders Of Houses.
SENATOR EvARTS' MARYLAND FARM-A NINTH STREET
IMPROVEMENTS SUGGESTION AS TO A NEW SYSTEM
OF COLLECTING WATER TAXES-THE USE OF PLATE
GLASS IN HOUSES. ,
real estate man in talking about the recent
agitation over the water rates. said that he thought
1t would be good idea to do away with the water
Office entirely with the exception Of the engineers
and place the entire business in charge of the col
lectOr "My idea Is this " he went on sabolish the
special water tax entirely and add sufficient to
the SO tax on real estate to insure an addition
to the present revenue for the tax on property
equal to that now derived from the water rents
In that way, the water tax would become q tax on
property. 1t would only be necessary to keep one
set OF books and the collection OF the tax would be
insured. never calculated how much the water
revenue amounts to on the hundred dollars, but
probably not more than or 5 cents. At all events
1t would not increase the present rate very much
and would probably be as equitable as the present
system or as any mat could be devised The high
water rent, while the cheap property would pay
less but II there is to be any equality it Is better
that it should be in that direction than the reverse
The owners OF rented property would pay the
water tax directly instead OF the tenant, and 1T
could be added to the rent as the general taxes
now are. When man rents property now he
really pays all the taxes as the rents are based
upon the cost to the owners OF holding the prop
crCy. why LneQ SQOulQ not the tenant pay his
water rent in the same way, without having the
bother OF going to the District Office and paying
his money directly to the District government
Under this system It would make no differences
how much front a mans property had or how
many stories high, he would pay upon the as
sessed value OF the ground and the improvements
Vacant ground would pay its share OF the water
tax II the water was available. There would be no
account taken OF the business carried on or
whether one man used more water than another,
but the property would pay according to wel-es-
tabliShed rules, and every one would know lust
how much was due. The system, l believe is
simple and Is Just as equitable as any known sys-
tenn. There are, OF course, Inequalities and the
large property owners might think that they were
being treated unJustly. but l think that its ad-
One thing is certain there would be only one set
OF books kept in the District ONCE, and one force
OF clerks could do the entire work with as much
ease as they now perform their present duties"
NEW BUSINESS BUILDING.
A large business building Is being erected by
Mr.. Francis Miller on the east side OF 9th street,
adjoining on the north the Perry building. The
old building has been removed and in its place is
being erected four-stOry building with a 'front.'
depth OF the lot. The new building will adtoin
the store now occupied by Mr.. Miller and 1t is his
intention to connect the Two. thus making a large
Will be used for his stock.
SENATOR EvARTs' MARYLAND FARM.
There has been considerable conjecture as to
the reasons why Senator Evarts recently purchased
about 800 acres Of land in the neighborhood of
Fort Washington. The facts are, as q STAR re-
porter was informed, that the Senator was led tn
make the purchase while endeavoring to aid a
friend who had bought place In that nefphbOr-
hood. Last winter he went down the river TO look
over his friends place, and While there was struck
with the beauty OF the ridge near the fort it being
some 800 feet in height and with fine view ~
the Capitol and the Washington Monument. The
with some Of the neighbors he met and going i'm.
mediately after to his Vermont property, near
comparison Of climate led him to take the sp
which resulted in the purchase through a friend
here. He has bought in all about 900 acres. ex-
property, taking in Swami Greek, extending 6acK
nearly two miles. The price paid is not made
known. His friends here say that his son win i've
probably portion be subdivided into villa lots o
The Senator will spend his winters in washing
ton. the spring and fan months IN Prince Georges
York city and near Windsor, vt.
PLATE GLASS IN MODERN HOUSES
1.-THE use OF plate glass In the windows OF houses
is now very general in this city," remarked a
dealer to Q STAR reporter. "Plate glass costa IN
much even when compared with the best double
thick glass that its use indicates the erection of
superior class OF houses. I suppose that il the
best glass for house would cost 500. that the
sec her cost go
deal glass IS used add IN oa doors
imported although there Is Just as s So IS dmoss
made In this country. There Is only difference in
cost OF ave per cent favor OF the American glass
but It is easter to procure the imported glass be.
very large capital for the business on acaonnt OF
the great number and variety OF the sizes used in
Is necessary TO carry In order to all orders prOmpt
". Where there were q hundred sizes OF olass q
few years ago there are now q thousand In
modern houses 1t seems that there are no two win
d0ws OF the same size. and there Is such variety
| OF windows that the stock Of great estanlish.
ment Is sometimes unequal to hlling en- order